(ESP-ENG) Radiografía de un Clásico. [Opinión]

Hello friends, good vibes to all.

Fuente.

When you know that the fight for a title depends on the result of a match, it automatically becomes a final and I believe that yesterday's match between Real Madrid and Barcelona was a very worthy one in that sense. Beyond the simple fact of facing each other, which in itself is a reason to paralyze half the world, what must be taken into account is the context in which this match took place, very different and similar for both clubs. Similar because both arrived without the opportunity to opt for the Champions League, which is a very hard blow for these teams, and different because if Barca won, they would be more firmly in the hunt for yet another title, something that has completely escaped Madrid this season.

Both teams arrived “motivated”. The Culés had just been defeated by Inter in one of the best knockout games ever seen in the Champions League. This was undoubtedly gasoline for a squad and the need to turn the page and fill the void with a victory in a match like this was vital, both for themselves and for the fans. On the other side we have the Merengues, a club that has been frankly sluggish and had lost the 3 derbies played this season. Their motivation? - To start the game with real options to continue fighting for the league, I think it was the perfect consolation in the face of the poor group performance. None of them had any reason not to fight or to leave points on the field and that was evident as soon as the ball started to roll.

Fuente.

This fourth story of the season began with the already confirmed news that Carlo Ancelotti is leaving Madrid, a very successful coach at the club but that this season, mostly due to injuries, things did not work out for him. Real in defense is an absolute shambles, a nonsense that has to suffer from the play of Lucas Vazquez in the absence of Carvajal, Camavinga and Alaba. I mention the Frenchman because if he were on the pitch Valverde would move to right back and things would be somewhat better. The reality is that Vázquez, with the precariousness that characterizes him, was responsible for many mistakes yesterday, if we add that Tchouaméni was not fine either and both Guler and Bellingham were missing, well, there is not much that can be done.

I think Madrid has a worn out squad that needs an urgent renovation and above all replacements, getting a replacement for Kroos is the main objective. The only one yesterday who showed things was Mbappe: drive, desire, made the hat trick; a very different tune to the rest of his teammates. Suffering a comeback in the way it happened and at the hands of their biggest rivals I consider it an important moral blow, a comeback that they could not do against Arsenal, something that feeds more the background of the situation. Barcelona comeback because unlike Madrid they play to something, lately Ancelotti's team is very dependent on individuals and that sometimes does not work.

Fuente.

Barca against Inter on both occasions (even though they lost) and now against Madrid they had to come from behind, does that tell us anything? - Well, I would say that the mind and focus of these young players is very well set. To come from behind requires a very important physical and mental effort, you have to really want to win and that the 11 players on the pitch want exactly the same thing, to achieve this on three occasions, such as in the Champions League semifinals and in a clásico, it can't be a coincidence. I think it all boils down to mental strength and harmony among the whole squad, soccer is about moments and Barcelona is going through a pretty decent one, not the best because they left the Champions League, but at the game level they are unbeatable.

The form of Lamine Yamal and the recovery of Raphinha's game compared to last season have been the keys to Barcelona's current form. If you ask me a weak point and based on what I saw yesterday, I would say that they need a guaranteed central defender since Araujo should not be counted on. Cubarsi is not a bad player but it is very common for him to arrive late to the marks and make certain mistakes, he needs to develop more and better. In short, what we experienced yesterday was spectacular, it was a great 7-goal classic where everything happened, penalties, good plays, great goals, hands sanctioned, others not so much. It was a match that could be talked about at length.

Well my people that's all for today, I hope you liked it.
¡Hugs to all, see you next time!

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